Abe to meet Trump over fears Japan is being sidelined on North Korea talks

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe could face some tense moments when he meets with President Trump this month at Mar-a-Lago, reflecting rising fears back home that Tokyo has been left on the sidelines as the U.S., South Korea and Chinese pursue direct diplomacy with North Korea.

Administration officials late Monday confirmed the meeting with Mr. Abe at Mr. Trump’s “Winter White House” on April 17 and 18. They said the third face-to-face meeting of the two leaders since Mr. Trump’s election will focus on ways Washington and Tokyocan stay in lockstep in the “maximum pressure” sanctions campaign to force Pyongyang to roll back its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

But the real reason Mr. Abe is coming, according to regional analysts, is to ensure Mr. Trump keeps Japan’s concerns high on his priorities list in his proposed summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which the White House hopes will occur as early as next month.